Humanist Week

World Humanist Day is celebrated annually by humanist organisations around the world o June. The BHA encourages humanists to celebrate this important event by doing something in the days surrounding the day - ie ‘Humanist Week’.

The aims of the week are to:

• increase awareness of Humanism
• provide information about Humanism
• celebrate Humanism and humanists
• increase interest in Humanism locally and nationally

Humanist Week 2010 21st-27th June

In 2010, the BHA organised special events and supported groups to celebrate Humanism in their local areas. The events of the week, at both a national and local level, related to the history, beliefs and values of Humanism.

The theme of Humanist Week 2010 was ‘Humanist Heritage -celebrating humanist contributions across the ages.’

The aims of the week were to:

• Celebrate humanists’ contribution to human wellbeing which continues today
• Reclaim the UK’s non-religious history
• Connect Humanism then and now
• Inform and raise awareness about Humanism
• Discover local ‘humanist heroes’

Over 90 packs of materials were sent out to people who wanted to celebrate Humanism in their local communities. As well as this, the BHA held an event jointly with the South Place Ethical Society on Humanism, Philosophy and the Arts which attracted over 100 people. 

The long-term legacy of the week is the ‘Humanist Heritage’  website, where people can upload information about their local area to create permanent resource for celebrating Humanism in the UK.

Read a briefing which we sent to all our affiliated groups.

Humanist Week 2009 20th-28th June

In 2009, the BHA coordinated a national ‘library drive.’ Libraries are well used by many sections of the community and most have spaces for local groups to display materials.

The BHA designed special materials with information about Humanism, the BHA, ceremonies, the history of Humanism and facts and figures about non-religious people.

These were displayed in over forty libraries throughout the week.